Friday, September 11, 2015

Select A Winning Earth Science Fair Project

There are three main focuses in Earth science: geology, meteorology and oceanography. It is important to know what these sciences cover to pick a topic. It is also important to know what the judges are looking for. A successful project should stay clear and to the point. Judges should not have to make guesses about any part of your project. Your display should be simple and clear and you should be knowledgeable enough about your subject to discuss it with the judges.


Instructions


1. Pick a field of Earth science. Geology would cover projects like building a model to demonstrate how earthquakes are caused, comparing the porosity of different types of soil and how erosion happens. Meteorology would cover projects like: how fog forms, what clouds are and how they are formed and whether precipitation varies in different parts of the United States. Oceanography would cover projects like how the depth of the ocean affects its temperature, what soil erosion is and how it does happen and why the ocean is salty.


2. Propose a question or hypothesis. A proper hypothesis would take the form of, "If I do this, then that should happen." A proper question should look similar to this, "Can I improve results by doing this," or, "If I try different ways, what will produce the best result."


3. Talk with former Earth science fair winners. You probably can't get any better information than from someone who has won the event in the past.


4. Inspect the rules thoroughly and abide by them. If you are unclear about the rules, ask questions before you select your project topic.


5. Find a visual project. Earth science is meant to be a part of the great outdoors. Don't be afraid to bring the outdoors indoors for your project to wow the judges.